Method and apparatus for rendering sound signal, and computer-readable recording medium

Abstract

A method of reproducing a multi-channel audio signal including an elevation sound signal in a horizontal layout environment is provided, thereby obtaining a rendering parameter according to a rendering type and configuring a down-mix matrix, and thus effective rendering performance may be obtained with respect to an audio signal that is not suitable for applying virtual rendering. A method of rendering an audio signal includes receiving a multi-channel signal includes a plurality of input channels to be converted into a plurality of output channels; determining a rendering type for elevation rendering based on a parameter determined from a characteristic of the multi-channel signal; and rendering at least one height input channel according to the determined rendering type, wherein the parameter is included in a bitstream of the multi-channel signal.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of rendering an audio signal, the method comprising:
 receiving additional information and a plurality of input channel signals including at least one height input channel signal; 
 determining whether an output channel, corresponding to an input channel signal among the plurality of input channel signals, is a virtual channel; 
 determining whether elevation rendering is possible based on a predetermined table for mapping the input channel signal to a plurality of output channel signals; 
 when the output channel corresponding to the input channel signal is the virtual channel and the elevation rendering is possible, obtaining an elevation rendering parameter; 
 when the output channel corresponding to the input channel signal is not the virtual channel, obtaining a non-elevation rendering parameter; 
 obtaining a first downmix matrix and a second downmix matrix, based on at least one of the elevation rendering parameter and the non-elevation rendering parameter; and 
 rendering the plurality of input channel signals into the plurality of output channel signals using one of the first downmix matrix and the second downmix matrix selected according to the additional information, 
 wherein the rendering comprises: 
 rendering the plurality of input channel signals by using the first downmix matrix, if the additional information represents a rendering type for a general mode; and 
 rendering the plurality of input channel signals by using the second downmix matrix, if the additional information represents a rendering type for the plurality of input channel signals including highly decorrelated wideband signals, and 
 wherein the additional information is received for each frame. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a layout according to the plurality of output channel signals is one of a 5.1 channel layout or a 5.0 channel layout. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for rendering an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor configured to: 
 receive additional information and a plurality of input channel signals including at least one height input channel signal; 
 determine whether an output channel, corresponding to an input channel signal among the plurality of input channel signals, is a virtual channel; 
 determine whether elevation rendering is possible based on a predetermined table for mapping the input channel signal to a plurality of output channel signals; 
 when the output channel corresponding to the input channel signal is the virtual channel and the elevation rendering is possible, obtain an elevation rendering parameter; 
 when the output channel corresponding to the input channel signal is not the virtual channel, obtain a non-elevation rendering parameter; 
 obtain a first downmix matrix and a second downmix matrix, based on at least one of the elevation rendering parameter and the non-elevation rendering parameter; and 
 render the plurality of input channel signals into the plurality of output channel signals using one of the first downmix matrix and the second downmix matrix selected according to the additional information, 
 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: 
 render the plurality of input channel signals by using the first downmix matrix if the additional information represents a rendering type for a general mode; and 
 render the plurality of input channel signals by using the second downmix matrix if the additional information represents a rendering type for the plurality of input channel signals including highly decorrelated wideband signals, and
 wherein the additional information is received for each frame.